With the Test against England set to take place on November 26, outside the traditional Test window, South Africa have been handed a timely boost ahead of their clash at Twickenham.
Head coach Jacques Nienaber has recently revealed that he will be able to call upon the nine Springboks that play in Japan after the clubs have decided to permit the release period and extend it for the upcoming game.
Indeed, as a result of the decision by the Japanese clubs, players that include Scrum-half Faf de Klerk, centres Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende, full-back Willie le Roux, hooker Malcolm Marx, lock Lood de Jager and loose forwards Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, and Pieter-Steph du Toit are all now available to join up with the Boks for their upcoming tour of Europe and remain with the team for the game to be played against England. The squad list of 54 names, though, will not be released until October 28.
While the news will be a significant boost to the team and their chances of potentially being able to have a successful tour, it may have also provided sports betting fans with some encouragement, too. With it possible to use the bet.co.za bonus when the team takes to the field, bettors may feel more confident to use it on the clash at Twickenham where they are potentially able to get some great value and odds.
Nonetheless, there could be a number of different options in the coming month, with the Springbox set to play four games throughout the course of November as they tour Europe.
Nienaber’s team – the current Rugby World Cup champions – will play Ireland on November 5, before heading to France a week later on November 12. The third of four games to be played will be against Italy on November 19, before the showdown on November 26 at Twickenham in a game that will see a rematch of the 2019 Rugby World Cup final that took place in Japan.
However, while the nine players mentioned above have been allowed to extend their leave and remain on tour with the South African national team by the Japanese clubs they play for, it has been revealed that the game against Italy could be the last one for some.
Nienaber has revealed that those that play their club rugby in Britain, Ireland, and France will be released once the game against Italy is completed, thus potentially ruling out some of the best players that are available for selection, while also potentially making decisions for next year’s Rugby World Cup a little more difficult.
Notwithstanding, the upcoming European tour is one that is going to be very challenging for the Springboks, regardless of which players they have available. While South Africa are ranked 3rd in the world rankings currently, they will face the World No. 1 and 2 in Ireland and France, while England are 5th in the latest standings.
